Żabbar council buys Hompesch Theatre to save it from potential development

Żabbar local council has bought the historic Hompesch Theatre to restore it as a cultural space for the community and save it from potential development.

The council said it had signed the deed on Wednesday, pointing out the €700,000 investment had been entirely funded out of the council’s own coffers.

“The theatre is one of several historic buildings in Żabbar that require urgent attention,” the council said in a statement.

While permits and approvals to begin works on the building in St. Nicholas Square were announced in recent days, the Council had already approved the allocation of funds weeks earlier to initiate the process of devolving the building to the Council and opening it as a creative and cultural space.

Mayor Jorge Grech said the theatre is a key part of Żabbar’s cultural heritage.

“It is a source of great satisfaction that we will be reopening this theatre to the public in the heart of Żabbar. The next step will be to prepare the restoration and maintenance process to make the building safe for the public and restore the life it deserves,” Grech said.

The council had unanimously approved a proposal put forward by Grech to buy the building to protect it.

“Without this intervention, a building of this value could easily have become a target for excessive development and conversion into another apartment complex,” Grech said.

The theatre could sit 335 people across the stalls and two galleries and is still adorned with frescoes painted by Salvu Asterita. Photos: Żabbar Local Council

Żabbar once had five theatres and cinemas, reflecting the town’s strong cultural tradition. Sala Notre Dame, also known as the Parish Priest’s Hall, is still functional; Blue Arena, an open-air theatre, part of the band club premises, is also still being used. Buckingham Theatre no longer exists as it was converted into a garage complex while Royal Cinema was converted into an apartment complex.

Hompesch Theatre was founded between 1900 and 1910 and later expanded. It was highly popular, with a seating capacity of 335 across the stalls and two galleries.

For the last 60 years, it served as a glass shop and frame-making workshop run by the Attard brothers, known locally as “Cikku ta’ Żebgħa,” later continued by their sons.

Although used as a warehouse in recent decades, the theatre has been well preserved. Only the stage area was removed.

The theatre contains significant frescoes, including coats of arms representing all localities of Malta, painted by Żabbar artist Salvu Asterita.